Why CandleXchange Chose to Certify as a Social Enterprise with Social Traders

By Karen Platt, Co-Founder, CandleXchange

When we launched CandleXchange in 2021, the business was built around two commitments: reducing the environmental impact of candle waste, and supporting vulnerable people in our community. These weren't goals we added later — they were the reason the business exists.

Certifying as a social enterprise with Social Traders in 2024 was a natural next step. It didn't require us to change what we do. It gave us a way to prove it.

What Makes a Business a Certified Social Enterprise?

The term "social enterprise" is used loosely. Plenty of businesses describe themselves as socially conscious, purpose-driven, or ethical — without any independent verification that the claim is real. Certification changes that.

Social Traders is Australia's leading social enterprise certifier. Their certification framework is built on five global standards set by the Social Enterprise World Forum, which are applied consistently across Australia's peak social enterprise bodies. To be certified, a business must meet all five:

Purpose — the business exists to solve a social and/or environmental problem, not just to generate profit.

Operations — it prioritises purpose, people, and planet over profit in its day-to-day decisions.

Revenue — it has a self-sustaining revenue model and earns its income through trade.

Use of Surplus — it reinvests the majority of any surplus back into its purpose.

Structure — it chooses legal structures and financing that protect and lock in the mission long term.

Self-declaration doesn't meet the standard. Certification does.

How CandleXchange Meets Each Standard

Purpose

CandleXchange exists to solve two problems at once: the environmental problem of single-use glass candle containers ending up in landfill, and the social problem of domestic violence survivors rebuilding their lives without basic household comforts. Our Return & Swap program addresses the first. Our UpCandle program addresses the second. Both are core to the business — not side initiatives.

Operations

Every operational decision at CandleXchange is made with purpose in mind. The candle containers are designed to be returned. The refill process is built into the business model. The UpCandle program uses the containers customers return to make new candles, which are donated to domestic violence shelters across Australia. Profit is a means to sustain the mission, not the mission itself.

Revenue

CandleXchange is commercially self-sustaining. Revenue comes from the sale of soy candles, diffusers, corporate gifting programs, and candle making workshops. We don't rely on grants or donations to operate. The business earns its income through trade — and that income funds the impact.

Use of Surplus

We have pledged to donate at least 50% of our profits to UpCandle. This isn't a discretionary commitment — it's built into how the business operates, and it's one of the reasons we sought certification in the first place. Having Social Traders as an independent body means our customers don't have to take our word for it.

Structure

The business is structured to protect the mission over the long term — not to be optimised for acquisition or profit extraction. The legal and operational decisions we make are designed to ensure that the social and environmental purpose at the heart of CandleXchange remains intact as the business grows.

What Certification Means for Customers

When you buy from a certified social enterprise, you know three things for certain: the impact claim has been independently verified, the business is held accountable to ongoing standards, and your purchase is genuinely contributing to something beyond a transaction.

For organisations engaging in social procurement — buying goods and services from socially responsible suppliers — certification provides the assurance needed to make that case internally. More Australian businesses and government departments are actively seeking certified social enterprises as suppliers. Our Social Traders certification means we meet that standard. Learn more about our community programs on our social impact page.

Hear From Our Community Partners

ReLove provides people in crisis with furniture and homewares to help them restart their lives. On receiving donated UpCandle candles, Jacqui Goodridge from ReLove said: "The donated candles from CandleXchange have been a wonderful addition to our homewares on offer. Each candle symbolises a fresh start and brings a sense of warmth and peace to our clients' new spaces. CandleXchange's commitment to sustainability and community support aligns perfectly with our values."

Kind Regards curates gift hampers from socially responsible brands. Rachel Morris, Business Manager, said: "Bundling products from social enterprises like CandleXchange with other socially responsible brands in our gift hampers aligns perfectly with our mission to promote ethical consumerism. Our clients appreciate the thoughtful selection and the story behind each product."

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Social Traders certification?

Social Traders is Australia's leading social enterprise certifier. Their certification confirms that a business genuinely meets the five global standards for social enterprise — Purpose, Operations, Revenue, Use of Surplus, and Structure — as defined by the Social Enterprise World Forum. CandleXchange is a certified social enterprise through Social Traders, which means our social impact claims have been independently assessed. Read more on our social impact page.

What does CandleXchange do with its profits?

CandleXchange has pledged to donate at least 50% of profits to the UpCandle program, which uses returned candle containers to make new candles donated to domestic violence shelters across Australia. This commitment is a core part of our social enterprise certification — not a discretionary donation.

How does buying a CandleXchange candle support the community?

Every purchase contributes to two things: our Return & Swap program, which keeps glass containers out of landfill, and our UpCandle program, which puts those containers back into use as candles for people rebuilding their lives. Explore our full sustainability approach to learn more.